<div dir="ltr">Re-copying lab list into this one, as my previous email about places that accept bitcoin is probably useful to everyone.<div><br></div><div>Also I was looking for this one but couldn't remember the URL this is a cool one with a listing of businesses (mostly physical locations) that accept bitcoin. With a nice interface on a map to find them:</div>
<div><br></div><div><a href="http://usebitcoins.info/">http://usebitcoins.info</a><br></div><div><br></div><div>- Paul</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Nov 27, 2013 at 4:01 PM, Paul & Andrea Mumby <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:themumbys@gmail.com" target="_blank">themumbys@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">There are quite a few places that accept them.<div><br></div><div>Some highlevel summaries:</div><div>- Many bitcoin specific businesses of course</div>
<div>- Many hosting businesses</div><div>- Many digital service businesses, and freelancers</div>
<div>- Several online electronics and computer equipment shops</div><div>- Several places allow you to buy gift cards with bitcoin for popular retailers</div><div>- A handful of resteraunts, cafes, and bars.</div><div>- Adult industry is adopting it heavily</div>
<div>- Now it's announced that Shopify will allow merchants to accept bitcoin</div><div>- BitPay is a payment processor allowing vendors to easily accept bitcoin (which has over 12,000 vendors listed as accepting bitcoin)</div>
<div>- Virgin Galactic accepts bitcoin for private space flight</div><div>- Humble Bundle and Humble Store accept bitcoin for purchasing Indie Games</div><div>- spendbitcoin is a listing of vendors (not a very good site though) that accept bitcoin</div>
<div>- Dominos Pizza in the USA accepts bitcoin</div><div>- There is a large university in Cyprus that accepts tuition in bitcoin</div><div>- Chicago Online Property Management firm Rentulations now allows all their tenants to pay their actual rent in bitcoins</div>
<div>- Several charities are accepting bitcoin donations</div><div>- There is a fairly strong bitcoin Gambling industry. Including a massive one satoshidice, and several poker sites, and other online gambling options.</div>
<div>- In the USA several politicians are accepting bitcoin now for campaign contributions.</div><div><br></div><div>A couple links:</div><div><a href="http://www.coindesk.com/rentalutions-enables-us-residents-to-pay-rent-in-bitcoins/" target="_blank">http://www.coindesk.com/rentalutions-enables-us-residents-to-pay-rent-in-bitcoins/</a><br>
</div><div><a href="https://bitpay.com/directory#/" target="_blank">https://bitpay.com/directory#/</a><br></div><div><a href="https://www.spendbitcoins.com/places/" target="_blank">https://www.spendbitcoins.com/places/</a> <br>
</div><div><br></div><div>
So it's far from "general acceptance" but it is certainly accepted in quite a few spots.</div><div><br></div><div>Also it's quite easy to accept bitcoin payments for anyone, either directly, or using a service like BitPay. For example BitPay makes the process transparent to vendors... You set pricing in USD, they allow bitcoin payments at market rate exchanges (auto-calculated pricing). And deposit the USD directly in your account, so you never have to touch bitcoin as a vendor, yet you can accept it.</div>
<div><br></div><div>As for how common it is. An interesting point. One neat thing about bitcoin is that all transactions are public record...</div><div>So, as of today's stats, the bitcoin market cap is at about $12 Billion USD (at current USD/BTC exchange rates).<br>
</div><div>The daily transaction volume is over $300 Million USD (at current USD/BTC exchange rates)</div><div>Does that help answer your questions? :)</div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><div><br></div><div>
- Paul</div><div><br></div></font></span></div><div class="HOEnZb"><div class="h5"><div class="gmail_extra">
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Nov 27, 2013 at 3:39 PM, Aurelius R <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:maxrowsell@gmail.com" target="_blank">maxrowsell@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">The only part you missed was -- where can I spend them? Sounds like a really cool idea, however, this is only the second or third time I've ever heard of them, and I can only think of one website that accepts them (the site I buy my web hosting and DNS from)...<div>
<br></div><div>Is it more common than I think?</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div>____________________<br>Peace, Love, Empathy<br><br>Alexander Max Rowsell<br></div><div><div>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 27 November 2013 13:04, Paul & Andrea Mumby <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:themumbys@gmail.com" target="_blank">themumbys@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">That can be a very loaded question(s) (answers to those questions could result in a several hour long discussion, not to mention some heated debate lol)...<div><br></div><div>But... The highlevel... What is bitcoin:</div>
<div>- Bitcoin is a digital currency. Could be equated to digital "cash". (It's commonly called a CryptoCurrency because it heavily relies on Cryptography at it's core)</div><div>- It is not a virtual construct of some company or organization (like canadian tire dollars). It is a purely digital asset, which is not under the control of any central authority.</div>
<div>- It is fully decentralized. No one body has control, no one body runs the network.</div><div>- As a result it is immune to manipulation by governments/banks (for example, it is designed to be stable, in reality it's actually a bit deflationary, and is not subject to inflation like dollars)</div>
<div>- Transacting bitcoin (especially across international lines) is FAR easier than any other method, and FAR more affordable. (also practically instant, with a few caveats)</div><div>- Bitcoin is highly secure (again with a few caveats, the big one being, bitcoin itself is secure, but the services surrounding it are up to individuals to make secure).</div>
<div>If you want me to get into a more technical discussion of "How" it works, I can do that, but it can get pretty deep.</div><div><br></div><div>How can you get some?</div><div>- You can buy some on an exchange such as <a href="http://cavirtex.com" target="_blank">cavirtex.com</a> which operates like a standard forex exchange. It's an open market, and people buy/sell bitcoin for $CAD.</div>
<div>- You can transact direct from person to person with no third party involved. The same as cash. So I could meet you at a coffee shop, give you bitcoin in exchange for dollars.</div><div>- You can use an ATM (coming soon!) lol... The first bitcoin ATMs are being rolled out in BC. And I'm hoping to assist in a rollout in Ottawa area in the near future.</div>
<div>- You can "Mine" bitcoin. This is a very complex topic to explain in full detail. But lets just equate it to gold mining. Gold exists in the earth in a fixed quantity. And Miners work to uncover that gold and make it usable and transactable. The same works with bitcoin. There are a fixed number of them that will ever exist. That can't be changed. Miners work to "find" those bitcoin over time using advanced computing equipment. (which I happen to manufacture). Originally you could mine using simply a low power PC. Then you used advanced GPU cards (Graphics processors) to do number crunching much faster and more efficiently. The ecosystem has evolved now to a point where advanced special purpose hardware is used with 100% custom processors made purely for mining bitcoins are used.</div>
<div><br></div><div>What's the point?</div><div>- Well as mentioned above, bitcoin is seen by some as a savings vehicle. Since it's been demonstrating deflationary attributes. An investment in bitcoin has had VERY high returns for those holding onto them long term... But it's also been fairly volatile, and as a result you have to have a strong stomach to play that game in a serious way lol.</div>
<div>- It's useful for transacting money internationally quick, easily, and cheaply.</div><div>- Several businesses accept bitcoin now as a means of payment. So you can use it to pay for goods and services.</div><div>
- It's cool and new-age. And it's neat to be part of something interesting</div><div>- To expand on the previous point. It's a disruptive technology. And has the potential to impact the world in a big way. Again, cool to be part of that (if it is successul)</div>
<div>- Allows you to take back some degree of control of your finances. You can have a say in how bitcoin works. and no single entity is in control, it's a true democracy (again with caveats)</div><div><br></div><div>
At this point in the game bitcoin is still young. It's come lightyears from it's beginnings, and has some major traction globally. But it's still nowhere near fully "mainstream" yet. It's still a niche. But it's growing rapidly every day.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Let me know if you have any other questions. I also suggest checking out the Bitcoin Foundation, and the Wikipedia article on bitcoin. both are decent starting points.</div><div><br></div><div>Also: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um63OQz3bjo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um63OQz3bjo</a></div>
<div>Is a decent video primer.</div><div><br></div><div>Bitcoin Foundation: <a href="https://bitcoinfoundation.org/" target="_blank">https://bitcoinfoundation.org/</a></div><span><font color="#888888"><div>
<br></div><div>- Paul</div></font></span></div><div><div><div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Nov 27, 2013 at 12:44 PM, Aurelius R <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:maxrowsell@gmail.com" target="_blank">maxrowsell@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<p dir="ltr">What are bitcoins and how can i get/use them? Is there a point? Dollars have always worked well for me thus far</p><div><div>
<div class="gmail_quote">On 2013-11-27 11:59 AM, "Tom Burns" <<a href="mailto:tom.i.burns@gmail.com" target="_blank">tom.i.burns@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.shopify.com/blog/10446157-shopify-merchants-can-now-accept-bitcoin" target="_blank">http://www.shopify.com/blog/10446157-shopify-merchants-can-now-accept-bitcoin</a><div><br></div><div>
:)</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Walking through the halls today all you hear are people talking about bitcoin.</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Nov 27, 2013 at 10:15 AM, Paul & Andrea Mumby <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:themumbys@gmail.com" target="_blank">themumbys@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">Sorry guys, we're well past the beta testing phase :)<div><br></div><div>(Not to mention that's an expensive beta test. Our prototypes are generating half a bitcoin per day, with several limitations on them. The final mass production units we expect to generate nearly 1BTC per day at current difficulties. And at a value of $900/BTC or more, even a 1 week beta test is equal to nearly $7000 in revenue ;)</div>
<div><br></div><div>We're just finalizing one or two minor bugs in the design, and expect to be in mass production any day now for our first production batch.</div><span><font color="#888888"><div><br>
</div><div>- Paul </div></font></span></div><div><div><div class="gmail_extra">
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Nov 26, 2013 at 9:58 PM, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:bentfork@gmail.com" target="_blank">bentfork@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr"><div><div><br></div>Paul do let us know if you need some beta testers... Any excuse to get a better internet connection at modlab.<br><br></div>Are you on CaVertex? <br><div><br><br></div></div><div>
<div><div class="gmail_extra">
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 26 November 2013 18:37, Paul & Andrea Mumby <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:themumbys@gmail.com" target="_blank">themumbys@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">If anyone wants to do a bitcoin transaction, I can certainly facilitate. I've got a fully trusted business account on the Canadian exchange. So I can easily move funds into and out of BTC/CAD<div><br></div>
<div>Also I currently own a business manufacturing custom ASIC based mining equipment (or rather we're close to launching our first product). But you're right. The "individual hobby miner" is becoming a thing of the past. Most of our equipment is targeted to large scale enterprise miners, targeting datacenter deployments.</div>
<span><font color="#888888">
<div><br></div><div>- Paul</div></font></span></div><div><div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Nov 26, 2013 at 4:57 PM, Jamie <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jamie@steppinofftheedge.com" target="_blank">jamie@steppinofftheedge.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div><div>It's been a great practical point of discussion with my family about subjective value, currencies, technology, etc. Got my son all the pieces to GPU mine as a Grade 8 graduation present. He made 20 coins with it that he spent for a Jalepeno miner that has since made him 6 or 7 coins. He's ok with that, I kind of wish I'd just bought him the PC's worth of BTC as the present which would be worth MUCH more now ;)<br>
<br></div>I'm also done recording an interview and other media that should have a Bitcoin themed podcast out by the end of the weekend (I hope). Check <a href="http://steppinofftheedge.com" target="_blank">steppinofftheedge.com</a> for it soon.<span><font color="#888888"><br>
<br></font></span></div><span><font color="#888888">Jamie<br></font></span></div><div><div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Nov 26, 2013 at 3:33 PM, Henri Kuschkowitz <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:henri.kuschkowitz@gmail.com" target="_blank">henri.kuschkowitz@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div style="word-wrap:break-word">Ha,<div><br></div><div>I second that Dave. It would definitely an interesting discussion if everyone could make it out. We did touch on that subject 3 weeks ago (?) but only on setting up mining rigs and whether or not it’s still valuable at a smaller scale.</div>
<span><font color="#888888"><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>HK</div></font></span><div><div><div><br><div><div>On Nov 26, 2013, at 3:14 PM, <a href="mailto:dave@huntgang.com" target="_blank">dave@huntgang.com</a> wrote:</div>
<br><blockquote type="cite">
<div style="font-family:Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif"><p>I have been following the bit coin news! In fact, I gave a big lecture to a bunch of guys at work after the fall of SilkRoad how the US Government would be forced to accept BitCoin as a form of value and it's inevitable increase in value... Of course, I never did buy any and am kicking myself now!</p>
<p>On 2013-11-26 3:05 pm, <a href="mailto:bentfork@gmail.com" target="_blank">bentfork@gmail.com</a> wrote:</p>
<blockquote type="cite" style="padding-left:5px;border-left:#1010ff 2px solid;margin-left:5px;width:100%">
<div dir="ltr">I thought there would be some here that knew what I was talking about. Does anyone have experience with local bitcoin? I'd rather trade with people I kind of know, rather than strangers. I'd like to try cashing out ~ 2 btc, or equivalent litecoin. </div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On 26 November 2013 14:56, Paul & Andrea Mumby <span><<a href="mailto:themumbys@gmail.com" target="_blank">themumbys@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">Ooh, neat, I'm interested to see what that announcement is :)</div>
<div>
<div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Nov 26, 2013 at 2:52 PM, Tom Burns <span><<a href="mailto:tom.i.burns@gmail.com" target="_blank">tom.i.burns@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">I work for Shopify. We are about to announce something :)
<div> </div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Nov 26, 2013 at 2:38 PM, Paul & Andrea Mumby <span><<a href="mailto:themumbys@gmail.com" target="_blank">themumbys@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">Just FYI I'm fairly heavily involved/invested in Bitcoin. I own a fairly large business focusing around them, And I'm a fairly fervent supporter.
<div> </div>
<div>We're working from several angles right now on trying to build up adoption in the area. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>If I weren't so damned busy lately trying to hold up a day job, run a business, and juggle half a dozen projects at once, I'd drag myself down to Modlab to catch up :) (in which case I'd be happy to get into a discussion with anyone who's interested)</div>
<div> </div>
<div>- Paul</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div>
<div>On Tue, Nov 26, 2013 at 2:35 PM, <span><<a href="mailto:bentfork@gmail.com" target="_blank">bentfork@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:</div>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div>
<div>
<div dir="ltr">
<div>I'm curious if any other list members have been following the crypto currency news recently. I've been watching the space of the last year or two on and off.<br><br></div>
<div>I'm not sure if there are any local vendors that accept bitcoin yet but it is a interesting movement. It is always interesting to hear of restaurants, bars and online stores that are taking it.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Are there any Bitcoin, Lightcoin, etc enthusiasts on the list? Anyone interested in a informal discussion on them some Wednesday during a mod lab?<br><br><br></div>
<div>Cheers</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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